A microgrid system controller includes a regulated bus, a variable-frequency drive (VFD) inverter, a generator coupled to a rotatable flywheel, a resistive load; and a plurality of actuatable switches. The microgrid system controller may also include a battery and charge controller or a battery storage device. The plurality of actuatable switches couple some of the various components.

The present invention relates to a method and plant of operating a grid forming power supply plant based on both a renewable energy, such as based on wind energy, solar energy, hydro energy, wave energy, and a carbon based energy, such as carbon based fuel. The grid includes a power input connection from a renewable power supply system and a power input connection from an carbon fuel engine based generator set. The generator set includes an engine for converting the carbon-based energy into motion energy, a generator, such as an alternator, for converting the motion energy into electrical energy, and a clutch for coupling and uncoupling of the engine with the generator. The system also includes a power buffer, such as a battery, subsystem for providing short term grid forming capacity and a plant grid forming controller for controlling grid parameters by means of controlling steps of a method. The plant grid forming controller includes interaction means for interacting with a control unit of the renewable power supply system, interaction means for interacting with a power buffer control unit, and interaction means for interaction with a control unit of the generator set.

Disclosed techniques include working fluid exergy recovery using hybrid processing. A supply of working fluid at a first pressure and a first temperature is accessed. The working fluid is compressed. The compressing yields the working fluid at a second pressure. The second pressure is greater than the first pressure. The working fluid at the second pressure and a second temperature is warmed using a first heat exchanger. The second temperature is greater than the first temperature. The working fluid at the second temperature is in a gaseous state. The working fluid is expanded in a gaseous state to a third pressure. The expanding is accomplished using a first liquid piston expander. An engine is driven to recover work from the working fluid in a gaseous state. The engine is powered by liquid from the first liquid piston expander.

An energy storage apparatus that includes at least one inlet for incoming process gas, at least one outlet for expanded process gas and a plurality of energy storage sub-systems configured to be arranged in series with each other and with a compressed gas store. The first of the plurality of energy storage sub-systems includes a first compressor, a first expander, a first thermal store and a first heat transfer device associated with the first thermal store. The second of the plurality of energy storage sub-systems includes a second compressor, at least a second expander, a second thermal store and a second heat transfer device associated with the second thermal store.

A flywheel system includes a rotor configured to rotate about a rotation axis. The flywheel system further includes a fixture and an active magnetic bearing module for actively stabilizing the rotor relative to the fixture. The active magnetic bearing module includes a plurality of first magnetizable elements mechanically coupled to or integrated in the rotor, and a plurality of electromagnets mechanically coupled to the fixture and configured to magnetically couple with the plurality of first magnetizable elements to actively stabilize the rotor relative to the fixture. Each of the first magnetizable elements is farther than each of the electromagnets from the rotation axis.

The energy transition involves the electrical power supply being almost completely covered by renewable energy sources such as solar plants or wind turbines. However, due to their naturally fluctuating output, these energy sources require the use of large energy storage systems, the realization of which still represents a major problem today. The present invention provides a solution which aims to secure the entire short-term storage capacity needed for the energy transition in Germany (and even Europe). For this purpose, in particular, the invention proposes the construction of a large-scale pumped-storage power plant in the Hambach open-pit mine, as a result of which the can mine be put to subsequent use in a sustainable way. The invention also relates to the construction and partial commissioning of the plant in parallel with the use that is being phased out, in particular that of lignite mining (by 2038). This is to avoid the loss of a significant number of existing jobs. After construction, it is not uncommon for lifetimes of over 100 or even over 1,000 years to be possible, which means that a particular level of sustainability can be ensured.

A hydroelectric power generation system includes at least one conduit extending from beneath the sea surface a predetermined depth into the ground below the sea floor level, a turbine connected to an underground distal end of each of the at least one conduit, and an underground reservoir to collect seawater flowing down through the at least one conduit and the connected turbine. The hydroelectric power generation system may be part of a distributed hydroelectric power generation system which includes a plurality of hydroelectric power generation systems, the distributed hydroelectric power generation system additionally including an underground reservoir to collect seawater flowing down through all of the conduits and connected turbines in the plurality of hydroelectric power systems.

Disclosed is a system (100, 500) for power generation. The system comprises a flywheel assembly (104, 200) comprising matter therein and a chamber arrangement enclosure (102) surrounding the flywheel assembly, wherein the chamber arrangement enclosure is configured to store antimatter (408) therein using magnetic and/or electrostatic fields. Herein the antimatter in the chamber arrangement enclosure is configured to cause rotation (106) of the flywheel assembly, said rotation providing a driving force to the flywheel assembly for generation of power via a turbine connected thereto.

A method for storage of excess energy which would otherwise be lost, the regulation of angular velocity, and prevention of excessive velocities is disclosed. The device consists of a bowl shaped container, divided into sections by radially oriented vertical walls, which holds a fluid (any appropriate liquid or set of small solid particles), and spins on its vertically oriented axis at various angular velocities. The floor of the device is formed in successive shapes of bowls and shelves, which allows for a kind of “gearing”. The invention allows more and more energy to be input into the device while the angular velocity is regulated within a particular range. A typical embodiment of the invention would include its attachment by a shaft at the axis to a vertical axis wind turbine.

A kinetic energy recovery system with flywheel includes a cascade flywheel doubly-fed electric machine and an electric motor. The cascade flywheel doubly-fed electric machine has a stator end coil, a rotor end coil and a flywheel. The flywheel can store kinetic energy by increasing speed or releasing kinetic energy by decreasing speed. A control circuit has an inverter, a rectifier and a DC bus connecting the inverter and the rectifier. The inverter supplies alternating current to the rotor end coil. The rectifier has an AC end connected to the stator end coil through an AC bus. The rectifier converts alternating current to direct current, so that the inverter can draw power from the DC bus. The electric motor has a phase coil connected to the AC bus. When the cascade flywheel double-fed electric machine decelerates, the system converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.